The premise was interesting, and for a YA reader this would be relatable and engaging. However, I found the protagonist's blatant disregard for the archaeological process off-putting, and her obsession with romance before she meets her historic beau made their connection seem less genuine. Die-hard romance fans would probably enjoy this, but I stopped at 17% through.

This book was a puzzle solving adventure with a sweet love story. Margot wasn’t just on an actual adventure. She also was on a journey of self-discovery. I enjoyed the development of Margot and Van’s relationship. It took time for them to warm up to each other, which I appreciated. I was surprised at the ease they had evading security guards and their chaperone, but I suspended my disbelief. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy young adult books.

Omg this was omg. Loved this book. I really enjoy the archeological part of it , I like how the FMC is not letting her circumstances stop her to try to do something that she will like. Enjoy the whole dynamic between Margot and Van . This is definitely a must for any fans of What the Rivers Knows . Totally would recommend

This book is a light and quick read perfect for summer. It gives the reader a taste of adventure, archaeology, mythology, and romance. The quest to put together the Vase of Venus will take readers on a ride. They will love watching to romance bloom between Margot and Vance. I also believe young girls will relate to Margot, and her witty, emotionally honest nature. This is a sweet, cozy adventure book perfect for YA readers and readers who just want a light read.

Thank you so much for the arc! I really enjoyed this book! It was just the right amount of action, humor, and romance. I really loved that Margot was more of an emotional character because I feel like with a lot of novels with a female lead they are typically very calm and collected so it was nice to see a character who, like me, will get very emotional when things happen to them. I also do always love a dark and brooding male lead like Van was until they start opening up to the main female lead. All in all I had a lot of fun reading this book. The plot kept me engaged and guessing and I loved the characters!

As someone with a background in classics and archaeology, I knew I had to read this after reading the excerpt--and this book was everything I'd hoped it would be! I loved the immersive feel and the magical realism. In the acknowledgements, the author says that this book is a mash-up of Encino Man and the Mummy, which I think is very accurate--I was thinking the same thing while reading it! I also loved the romance (while sometimes a bit cheesy, but I love cheesy) and while both of the MCs had their flaws, they were still lovable nonetheless. I can't wait to see what's next from Rachel Moore!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

actual rating: 3.25. look, was this the best book in the world? not by a long shot. was the plot incredibly predictable? i could see the ending from a mile away. but the book was fun! it was simple! i didn’t have to think very hard and that’s exactly what i needed.

Do you want a book that's like Percy Jackson (but if it was ROMAN mythology and the main character is a high school girl?!?🥳) AND Indiana Jones?! Then this book, Us in Ruins, would be PERFECT for you!

I got SO pulled into this book and was so intrigued with how this book was going to end! There were plot twists, trials, losses and gains, action, and adventure, and so much more! There's an element of romance (with a grumpy x sunshine vibe) + a coming of age element too! It's such a nice combo and is really a perfect young adult book: it's a fun read if you were in middle school but also a fun read for adults (the PERFECT balance!)!

I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see more from Rachel Moore! Thank you so much to HarperTeen for an early copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review!💖

Margot is so sassy and I love her red lipstick. Her impulsiveness makes for a fun, unpredictable ride and conflicts with her classmates. Such a fun stand-alone adventure!

A very fun and fast-paced romp through Italy! The romance was simmering throughout and the twist about Astrid's heritage was well-threaded from the beginning to the end.

This book made me simultaneously want to watch The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Indiana Jones.

Margot is a 17-year-old who sneaks away from her school group to go on an archeological quest in satin short pajamas and 6% phone battery. Which tells you a lot.

<i>Us in Ruins</i> was heavy on plot and I liked the plot, even with all its logistical holes. But the balance between plot and character development wasn’t there because Margot’s, and Margot’s and Van’s, arcs fell short.

3 stars reading this as an adult, but I think I would have really enjoyed it when I was younger. Assuming the intended audience is middle school / early high school, I’ll give it a 4.

4 stars

“ℒ𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝒸𝓇𝓊𝑒𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈. ℐ𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓉. ℐ𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓇𝒸𝒶𝓈𝑒, 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔.”

I was thoroughly absorbed by my first Rachel Moore’s novel, which has earned a spot on my ‘must-read-again’ list. the author’s flawless penmanship seamlessly interlaced together heart-pumping Indiana Jones-esque action, intricate family drama, and a dash of mythological and historical insight, effortlessly transporting me to a world of adventure and intrigue.

Margot’s discovery of a mysterious journal in her school’s library sets her on an unforgettable adventure. the journal, penned by the enigmatic archeologist Van Kaene in 1932, reveals a morbid quest to find the mythical Vase of Venus Aurelia. following the cryptic instructions, Margot uncovers hidden treasures and stumbles upon a shocking secret: one of the marble statues comes to life, revealing the true identity of the long-lost archeologist. as Margot and Van Kaene join forces, they embark on a thrilling quest to recover every fragment of the elusive vase. Will their partnership uncover the secrets of the past, or will the treacherous journey claim their sanity?

I adored the striking contrast between Margot and Van, the quintessential grumpy hero and optimistic heroine. the slow-burning romance was perfectly paced, leaving me craving just a bit more of that tender tension. however, the true magic of the book lay in its complex plot, expertly woven with suspenseful twists and turns. the betrayal that unfolded was foreshadowed, leaving me gasping in surprise. the historical backdrop of Pompeii was richly layered into the narrative, and the mythological elements added an air of mystique. from start to finish, this book had me on the edge of my seat, laughing and guessing until the very end. If you’re looking for a thrilling adventure with a healthy dose of humor and wit, look no further!

As someone who is obsessed with ancient history and archaeology, I was really excited for the opportunity to read this book. It's a great story but I did have some issues with the writing. There are several instances of inconsistencies in the story. For example, when the main characters are visiting a museum in Rome, the MFC starts the day wearing a polka dotted dress, (and makes a point to explain why she's wearing the dress) but just a few pages later (in the same scene) she's wearing jeans? I also really struggled with how unbothered the MMC was at having been turned into a statue for 90 years. Like he all of a sudden finds himself in the 21st century where things are SIGNIFICANTLY different than they were in his time, and he's just like 'cool, let's find these vase pieces'. All of that being said, I know this is an ARC and hasn't been through its final edits. I really loved the story and look forward to reading the final copy when it's published!

I love the concept of this story but really struggled with how it was executed. Certain aspects of the story I couldn’t wrap my head around, such as how Margot managed this trip in the first place, and I think it would have benefited being aged up - with college-aged characters instead.
I also feel like the references to pop culture didn’t fit well for this setting and consistently took me out of the story - along with the hurried writing that made me feel like this book was rushed for certain scenes to occur and breezing past others that needed more explanation. Overall, I just feel like this book read a bit younger than I expected with how most young adult novels are that I picked up and that it was missing vital pieces that would have made the story make more logical sense & the characters feel more real. I do think a younger audience who may not think too much of these things and who will just go along with the adventure may still enjoy this but sadly I did not and I do not think this is one of those young adult novels that adults would also enjoy - most anyways.

This was a cute book, probably better suited for a younger audience. The adventure was fun, and the statue element was unique. The world building could have used a little more detail.

I personally thought there were too many pop culture and current references, starting with Taylor Swift in the first few pages of chapter 1,

3.5 rounded up because some of my issues may just be because I am older than the target audience

Perfect for fans of What The River Knows, The Mummy, The Lost City (and Jungle Cruise).

I literally couldn’t put this book down. The story was so captivating, and Van and Margot have some of the best chemistry. The way their relationship develops is so perfect and I just can’t put into words how much I love them.


I love a good treasure hunt story, and Us in Ruins had so much action and mystery to keep me hooked through the entire thing. (Seriously. I read the whole book in a day!) I loved Margot’s determination to prove everyone wrong about her and Van was so fun and snarky. I’m no good with predicting twists and that still holds true. The setting descriptions were so atmospheric, it really helped me to visualize the story as it unfolded and made me feel like I was actually there.

3.75,

If there’s two things I love in life it’s books and archeology.
This book was perfect for my summer vacation, very atmospheric, and fun, keeping me entertained every time I picked it up! Us in Ruins is a combination of Lizzie McGuire The Movie x Percy Jackson as we follow two teenagers traveling around Italy in the search for pieces that belong to an ancient treasure, The Vase of Venus. Curses and romance getting in the way. Rachel Moore’s second novel is perfect for those who want to read a cute rom-com by the beach while simultaneously being transported to a reality where statues come to life, and happily ever afters are guaranteed. Although this isn’t one of the best summer books I’ve read, it’s cute and lighthearted, the characters keeping you engaged with the story not to mention the main character is so relatable! Truly refreshing to read about an emotional girly protagonist when it feels like there are only physically strong bad-ass heroines nowadays. And don’t get me wrong Margot is strong just emotionally a representation that very much matters for young girls, it's very clear she loves and cares deeply and that’s what makes her so great and allows her to have a connection with a certain audience of girls (me)
The book was well paced nothing feeling too rushed or slowed, and the romance was super cute making you feel like you’re watching a 2000’s rom-com!

Thank you Netgalley and Rachel Moore for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, I truly had a blast!

Before reading, I believed this would be THE book of September. It seemed to fit perfectly into my newly minted "Adventure Academia" niche genre, but it fell flat for me. That being said this is a great story for teens learning to love themselves and learning how to be loved just as they are with a little archeological adventure thrown in. Younger audiences who just want fun and won't look too deeply into logistics or plot holes will not be dissatisfied. But I was lol.

I had high hopes as the concept was *chef’s kiss*, but it felt too convenient. The characters’ interactions were too pre-planned and stiff as if they were written to fulfill a trope or hyper-specific concept the author loves. Where was the heart? It’s also very YA. I can’t blame it as it is about teens but I don’t want to read about teens acting like teens. 😅 Middle and high schoolers would probably love this.

I had the same problem with Us in Ruins as What the River Knows. Amazing concept, mediocre execution. Margot and Van felt like factory-setting characters…their interactions were cringy. If I had just been awoken from stone after almost one hundred years OR been the person present to see a human changing from stone to flesh and blood, I’d be a little more freaked out! They’re both too okay with their situation. It felt like the author wrote out her plot points then forgot to fill in the actual story. Maybe she suffered from the current publishing trend of hitting tropes rather than writing a unique and naturally progressive story.

I didn’t really enjoy the concept of Margot already knowing who Van was because she had found his journal which included a photo of him. She kept imagining him there on the dig site and wondering what he would be doing and thinking and I think it wouldn’t been more interesting if she didn’t know of him. It was almost like the author wrote preceding scenes in which Margot spent time reading Van's journal and feeling like she knew him but then they were cut or something. Because she may feel like she had admiration for him, but the readers just get a sense of insta-love.

OMG I absolutely adored reading this fun lil adventure of a book! (Yes I know the cover is pretty but it was equally entertaining on the insides I promise)

The FMC was a really well flushed out character who felt real and relatable in so many ways which made for delightful reading. I do wish a bit more was done in that regards for the MMC in that regards, as at times where there was an opportunity to round him out things got glossed over to maintain a quicker pacing it felt.

As for the plot of the book, I was hooked for the get-go! It didn't detract from my enjoyment but I did wish that the world building leaned into the fantasy elements a smidge more as I'm just a sucker for that, but in many ways it was just the right amount to for the plot and story the author was conveying.

At the end of the day I couldn't put this book down, and when I had to I just wanted to be reading it anyway! Which makes me immensely grateful to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing my with an eARC for this book. All opinions are my own.

It was adventures like the mummy but with ancient pompeii and greek gods. I sweeped through it with the need to finish it. It was heart racing action and the idea, the plot was utterly amazing. It made for a sweet romance with an adventure to put an urn together for treasure. At the end love was the treasure not gold. I absolutely loved this story.